Display-rack.



No. 870,176. PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907. a s. M. HULTZ & c. I. SMITH.

DISPLAY RACK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1907.

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PATENT OFFICE.

SMITH M. HULTZ AND CHARLES 1. SMITH, OF ELYRIA, OHIO.

DISPLAY-RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1 907.

Application filed March 23. 1907- Serial No. 364,007.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that SMITH M. HnL'rz and CHARLES 1. SMITH, citizens of the United States, residing at Elyria, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display- Racks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for exhibiting goods such as rugs, draperies and the like requiring an extended surface for advantageous and proper display.

The present invention relates to a rack which may be adjusted to occupy either a perpendicular or a hori zontal position, or moved to any angle intermediate of the vertical and the horizontal, said rack being provided with rollers upon which the goods may be wound, and actuating means for turning the rollers to wind the goods from one to the other according to the pattern or article to be exhibited to the prospective customer.

For a full descriptionof the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a display rack embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the rack.

The rack embodies a frame which is mounted to be adjusted to any angular position between the perpendicular and the horizontal, or arranged so as to occupy either a vertical or a horizontal position. The frame may be constructed of any material but is preferably formed of tubing such as used for service pipes for conveying water or gas. The frame illustrated comprises side bars 1 and end bars 2 and 3. Elbow fittings 4 connect the end bar 2 with the side bars 1, whereas T fittings 5 connect the end bar 3 with the side bars 1, the ends of the member 3 projecting beyond the '1 fittings 5 to form journals (Twhich obtain bearings in standards 7 secured to the floor in any convenient and substantial way. A tie bar 8 connects the side bars 1 intermediate of their ends to stiffen and brace the same. This tie bar also serves to prevent sagging of the goods when the frame is moved from the perpendicular. It is to be understood that any number of tie bars 8 may be employed. T fittings 9 are mounted upon the side bars 1 and their horizontal ends receive the threaded end portions of the tie bars 8. A brace cooperates with. the frame to hold the same in the desired position. This brace consists of one or more bars 10 having loose connection with the end bar 2, the lower end of the brace being pointed so as to make positive engagement with the floor and prevent slipping of the brace when the frame is adjusted either perpendicularly or to angular position. In the event of the brace consisting of two bars 10, the same are connected by a tie bar 11 to cause both members 01' bars to move together and to prevent their inward or outward displacement. Moreover, the tie bar 11 may be grasped by both hands when it is required to move the brace to adjust the frame to any desired position. T fittings 12 connect the upper ends of the bars or members 10 with the end bar 2 and are loose upon the latterto admit of the brace turning freely when effecting adjustment of the frame.

A roller 13 is located near the upper end of the frame, and a similar roller 14 is arranged near the lower end of the frame, said rollers being of like formation and mounted in a similar way. '1 fittings 15 are mounted upon the side bars 1 and their horizontal members receive the journals of the respective rollers. By having the fittings 15 loose upon the side bars 1,

they may be adjusted to move the rollers to any re- .nected to the journal by means of a ratchet device to admit of the sprocket wheel turning in one direction without imparting movement to the roller and turning with the latter in the opposite direction to impart movement thereto. A ratchet wheel 19 is fast to each journal provided with a sprocket wheel 18 and cooperates with a pawl 20 carried by the sprocket wheel. The teeth of one ratchet Wheel face in an opposite direction to the teeth of the other ratchet wheel and the pawls 20 are oppositely disposed; hence rotation of the sprocket wheels in the same direction will cause one to turn loosely upon its journal and the other to turn with its journal and impart a rotary movement to the roller so as to wind the goods thereon while at the same time admitting of the goods unwinding from opposite roller. The sprocket wheels 18 are connected by a sprocket chain or drive belt 16, and the latter is adapted to have movement imparted thereto from-any suitable source of power. A shaft 21 is conveniently located and mounted upon a side bar of the frame and is pro vided with a pinion or driver 22 which is in engagement with a run or portion of the chain or drive belt 16 so as to impart movement thereto. The shaft 21 may be operated in any convenient way as by means of a crank handle 27. The shaft 21 is mounted in a frame 24 which is clipped or otherwise attached to a side bar of the main frame, said frame 24 having posts 25 above and below the shaft 21 upon which are mounted sprocket idlers which engage with portions of the sprocket chain or drive belt and hold the same in positive engagement with the pinion or driver 22.

' end being attached to the other roller.

Should the sprocket chain or drive belt 16 lengthen, slack therein may be taken up by adjustment of one or both of the rollers as may be desired. If it be required to lessen the distance between the rollers 13 and 14, the drive chain or belt may be correspondingly shortened by removing any number of the links, this being readily accomplished in any well known manner.

When the apparatus is set up; the goods to be displayed are wound upon one roller, one end being sccured to the roller in any manner and the opposite In the event of the goods consisting of rugs, draperies or like articles, they may be connected in any way so as to form in effect a continuous Web to admit of unwinding the same from one roller and winding thereof upon the other roller, whereby a particular rug may be brought into position for inspection. Should it he required to exhibit the goods at various angles, the frame may be adjusted either to the perpendicular or the horizontal,

. 1 or to any intermediate angular position and secured at the required point by means oi the brace in the manner described.

Having thus described the invention, what is ported at one end, a brace having loose connection with the opposite end of the frame to hold the same in adjusted position, rollers adjustable upon the frame, sprocket wheels, a ratchet connection between the sprocket wheels and the journals of the rollers upon which they are mounted, one ratchet connection being arranged in an op posite direction to the other ratchet connection, a sprocket chain connecting the sprocket wheels, a drive shaft and a pinion fast to the drive shaft and in mesh with a run of the sprocket chain.

In testimony whereof we ailix our signature in presence of two witnesses.

SMITH M. HUL'IVZ. CHARLES I. SMITH.

[1A. s.] [n s.]

Witnesses CHAS. A. Mn'rCALF,

ALMA Hnnnr. 

